Josiah
Management of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Eastern Region has recovered GH¢1.54 million from customers involved in various forms of electricity theft and related illegal activities.
According to the Eastern Regional Manager, Emmanuel Appoe, the amount recovered represents about five percent of individuals identified as engaging in the illegal use of electricity.
The recoveries follow intensified monitoring efforts by ECG’s Revenue Protection Unit, aimed at reducing commercial losses that pose a threat to the company’s operational sustainability. Ing. Appoe indicated that investigations uncovered over a hundred cases involving deliberate interference with the power distribution system.
The offences identified include 47 instances of unauthorised service connections, where customers connected to the grid without approval; 37 cases of meter tampering, involving physical interference to under-report electricity consumption; and 33 cases of meter bypass, where electricity was routed directly to avoid metering altogether.
While describing the recovery of GH¢1.54 million as a significant achievement, Emmanuel Appoe noted that such illegal practices continue to deprive the company of critical resources that could otherwise be invested in improving service delivery and infrastructure.
In addition to deliberate theft, ECG is also dealing with system disturbances caused by public negligence and accidents, which have resulted in substantial unplanned repair costs.
To address these challenges, Ing. Appoe stated that franchise officers have been mandated to support meter reading activities as part of efforts to enhance efficiency and improve overall service delivery.
Source: Omanghana.com
